Impossible Plan

Chapter 7

Axel's eyes were glowing with a faithful look, out of nowhere he has received a new chance to get the information he wants.

“What caused your sudden change of heart, Axel?” Selina mulls over something.

“I have my own reasoning, Selina, so stop your chit-chat and let's get down to business.”

Selina's cold stares have given way to an ambitious demeanor. She jots down everything that comes to mind in order to support her ideal plan.

“As you wish, Axel. We will begin from understanding Raisen’s personality; based on what I have learned about her, Raisen is very obsessed with being respected. Unfortunately, no matter how much respect you show towards her, the way she looks at you does not change. Unless and until you have her approval or trust, the contract agreement between two of you will always be at the mercy of Raise’s hand.”

Like an oracle Selina describing Raisen way of treating people by thinking she is above others her was very accurate. Axel who has never mentioned how the result of his meeting with the administrator just nodded straight away to respond this on point portrayal.

“She labelled me as an insolence.” Axel added. “Nothing worked, no matter how hard I tried to change Raisen’s impression about me.” 

“Hence, you have no objection if I our first phase of the plan is to make her realize the value you have within yourself Axel.”

Instead of giving a response to Selina’s question, Axel feels something strange. ‘Value? It’s been a while since someone talked to me about value.’

Axel? Axel, did you hear my explanation?” asked Selina.

“W-what? Sorry Selina, I was... spacing out just now, can you explain what you said again?” 

“You must offer something valuable in order to gain Raisen’s respect. If you have earned her respect, the contract talks surely switch in your favor.”

“And what exactly does Raisen, a Black Circle's administrator, consider valuable?”

“The answer is sitting right in front of you, Axel.”

“Stop messing with me Selina and tell me something that will earn Raisen’s trust.”

“Me Axel, the news about me being alive will give you plenty chances to win Raisen’s approval.”

“That’s it? No offense, but what’s make you so sure, that she will listen to any of this?”   

“Show her a picture of me in half-dead condition to make her believe in your word. She will initially quiver in disbelief, then request verification of the picture's veracity.”

The word half-dead is causing Axel to scream at Selina, he cannot believe himself to hear such a shocking word coming from her lip. Nevertheless, her calm expression that didn’t change leave him in awe,  

“Whoa!! What do you mean by half-dead?”

“What else could half-dead be possibly mean? “Don't worry, Axel; it's just another bait to lure Raisen into our trap.”

“We are faking your half-dead situation? But what if she didn't buy it?”

“She will Axel, because my existence is a threat to expose treacherous deeds she committed and she will go to any length to silence me.”

Selina’s confident strategy that is wrapped with vengeful intention to lure Raisen out from Black Circle manages to make Axel worried. He is afraid to be caught into a personal feud between two of them.

Although Axel could understand how Selina feels, he has no intention to participate in other’s revenge, because what Axel cares the most is to get his hand on his sister’s murderer.

“Treacherous? Don’t tell me she stabbed another administrator to fill her greedy ambition?”

“I care not for such conspiracy between administrator Axel; however, I am get involved when she used Jason’s dead body as a bait to eliminate me.”

Axel smirks awkwardly as Selina describes her dire situation in a calm state. He had never met anyone who did not give up in the face of adversity solely for the purpose of her revenge.

“Let’s continue discussing our plan, Selina. What is the next phase after Raisen has taken the bait?”

“You must refrain from attempting to be in control over the contract talk and instead await Raisen's call.”

“Why not? If I can get a hold of the administrator, I'm sure I will-”

“They will grow suspicious of you, Axel. Instead of an agreement, your life will be jeopardized, and who knows what will happen next.”

“M-makes sense; if it's that simple to control an administrator, I don't need your help to get what I want. What is the second phase?”

“We are still not over phase two Axel, if Raisen is making a call to believe in you, personally accompany her to the abandoned warehouse in the north. Keep in mind that you must object if she suggests that she verify my situation by sending her personal assistant or going alone. Insist on accompanying Raisen into the warehouse. If she refuses, cancel the contract and leave immediately.”

“Wouldn't that make me even more suspicious?”

“Yes, Axel, it will. However, you have a reason to be persistent: you want to ensure that your part of the contract was not violated.”

How Selina thinks for the whole plan against one of Black Circle’s elder is astonishing feat for Axel to see. Trust is the most crucial element to advance into contract talk, yet she teaches him that Black Circle not a place to put your trust in.

“You are really used to this contract stuff, aren’t you, Selina?”

“I can't help myself because working under contract is part of my daily routine.”

“Sigh… Assuming Raisen takes the bait and follows me to the warehouse. What if she sends her agents to catch you in secret? “

“I will make certain that they are eliminated prior to your arrival with Raisen, with the caveat that the assassins who are coming are not difficult opponents.”

'There is a higher possibility that this plan will fail.' Axel thought.

“There are two possible reasons for the bad outcome of this plan; first, Raisen, do not wish to follow you and force her way to find me. Second, the moment you hand out the fake evidence of my whereabouts, she becomes suspicious of you, and you will be eliminated.”

“I could see that Raisen is the deciding factor in this operation.”

“Incorrect, I must say, because you, in my opinion Axel, are the focal point of this strategy. To increase the success rate of our plan, you must improve your negotiating skills.”

“It was thoughtful of you, Selina, to burden my life with such a heavy responsibility.”

“If you wish to get what you want, this challenge is nothing but a small obstacle to overcome.”

Axel is well aware that everything she says is purely for her own benefit, rather than genuine encouragement.

“So far you have only shown me the attacking plan. I suppose now is the right time to discuss my escape strategy, Selina.”

“You're being impatient, Axel; whether you ask or not, I will talk about it sooner or later.”

“Tell me how you intend to get me out of the clutches of those assassins at Black Circle. Their security measures are stringent, a simple suspicious gesture will result in a gun being pointed at me. It is also out of the question to take Raisen as a hostage.”

“I am less confident with your plan to make Raisen a hostage.”

“Why?” Axel questioning her doubt about his strength. “I am not that weak to have my ass smacked by an old woman.”

“I could agree that you are not weak Axel, but I have to remind you that Raisen is the same as well. Therefore, I am suggesting you making use of bombs, Axel.”

Axel gets up from his couch, stunned, to hear Selina, a trained assassin, make such a ridiculous suggestion.

“Are you insane?!! Bringing a bomb to Black Circle is an obvious suicide.”

“I am referring to mini bomb Axel, a small bomb with enough explosive power to cause a distraction.

When you reach the fifth floor and are about to enter the chamber to meet Raisen, interject some of these mini bombs to help you get out of the Black Circle.”

“And what if security discovers these bombs?”

“They should be unable to find the bombs if you place them in the locations I specify. I’ll also do the same from outside the building. With the right momentum, try to escape through a window or blow a hole in the ground with the remaining bombs.”

“Selina, how many bombs do you have? Assuming that more than five of them are required to grant me the escape route.”

“I am not certain for now; I should recheck my supplies first returning here to finalize our plan.”

Selina walks out of the house after giving a rather ambiguous answer about the number of mini bombs she possesses.

“Are you leaving Selina?”

“For the time being, Axel, we must prepare everything separately. Or maybe you wish to spend more time with me?”

“Spare me with the jokes Selina and tell me when could I get my hand on the name of my sister’s murderer.”

“I hope you will be ready to carry out the plan by the time I return. Have faith in me and by the time we finished our contract you will have the name.”

Selina departs like a non-existent creature from Axel once more, but this time he is permitted to see her off into the sky of Norland City. Selina’s absence leaves a strange feeling within Axel. recognizes it as the same emotion he felt when his sister left for eternity.